02 August 2008

Louisiana high school cowboy Corbin Carpenter is recovering from a spinal injury he sustained after being thrown from a bull at the National High School Finals Rodeo July 25 in Farmington, N.M.

The 17-year-old is "cowboy tough" and will handle whatever rehabilitation is ahead of him, his mom, Theresa Carpenter, said. Several communities, numerous Western organizations and countless people in the rodeo family are also pulling for him. "The outpouring of these people will forever be in our hearts," Theresa said. "We're getting e-mails from as far away as Honduras. I cant say enough about these people."

Carpenter sustained injuries to his C6 and C7 vertebrae and had back surgery the same day he was injured. Initially listed in critical condition, Carpenter was upgraded to serious condition and moved from intensive care to a hospital room on July 29. Family and friends have been at his side at Farmingtons San Juan Regional Medical Center. He was only unconscious during surgery; he vividly recalls losing his bull rope, being thrown under the bull and trampled. ~ read more

the farmington, new mexico daily times gives an update on corbin carpenter. mr. carpenter was 'critically injured' while competing at the national high school finals rodeo, in farmington, on friday 25 july 2008 when the bucking bull he was riding kicked and stomped him unconscious.

the daily times excerpt:

[carpenter] was listed in fair condition Monday.

Carpenter underwent surgery to stabilize his spine hours after the injury. Additional surgery is possible, his mother, Theresa Carpenter, said.

Whether more surgery is done will affect the date of Carpenter's release from San Juan Regional Medical Center to a rehabilitation center in Texas, she said.

"I'd be afraid, but I know what God can do, and I know what Corbin can do," she said.

Her son wants a second surgery to further stabilize his spine and relieve pressure, but a determination needs to be made first on whether to remove a blood clot from his left arm.

The Carpenter family raises beef cattle and runs several businesses in Jonesville, La., where they live on 16 acres. Corbin Carpenter began one of the businesses, a horse-breaking operation, two years ago. ~ read more

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